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Alpine deadlock

The skiing industry is obstructing an international treaty aimed at
halting environmental destruction in the Alps. In 1989, France, Germany,
Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Lichtenstein and Slovenia declared that they
would cooperate to protect the alpine environment.

They were to have ratified the declaration in November, then agree on
nine separate protocols, five of which have now been drafted. But as no
one has ratified the declaration, the process is deadlocked.

The problem is the draft protocol on tourism, written largely by France.
Bavaria complains that the draft sets no real limits on heli-copter-skiing,
‘canons’ that induce artificial snowfalls to cover ski runs, and development
of new ski facilities, all stringently controlled in Germany.

Bavarian and Swiss ski operators fear they will lose business to their
neighbours if the Convention does not force them to adhere to equally strict
rules.